13 Best Instagrammable Places in the Algarve
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Looking for the best Algarve Instagram spots? You’re in the right place! The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal, with over 100 kilometers of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It’s known for having a warm climate, many beaches, seafood, surfing and more.
While traveling this region of Portugal, you’ll come across many photo-worthy locations. With its incredible coastal landscapes and historic old towns, the Algarve has plenty of great Instagram spots.
Below, you’ll find the 13 best Algarve Instagram spots, from must-visit places like the Benagil Cave to lesser-known towns like Ferragudo. These beautiful places are perfect for getting some of the best photos of the stunning country of Iceland.
13 Best Instagram Spots in the Algarve
Here are the best Instagrammable places across the Algarve coastline, including beautiful inland locations, too!
Silves Castle
Silves is a small, historic Algarve town which was a major trading center during the Moorish era. This town is about 15 kilometers north of the nearest stretch of Algarve coast, and 20 kilometers northeast of Portimão. Here, you can visit an old medieval site: Silves Castle.
Silves Castle is in the center of Silves, up on a hill that overlooks the town. This sandstone castle was built by the Moors who held the Algarve region from the 8th to 13th centuries. Today, it’s one of the best-preserved castles in the region.
Early morning is the best time for photos at Silves Castle, so plan to go right when the castle opens. This way you can beat the tour groups that start arriving midday. Some of the best photos will be up on the castle walls, and by the castle towers. From the walls, you’ll have beautiful views of the castle itself, and the surrounding region.
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Old City Gate in Silves
The old city gate of Silves (Portas da Cidade de Silves) is another Instagrammable location in the Algarve. This gate was built sometime during the 12th or 13th centuries. At that time, it was the main entryway into the city of Silves, which was surrounded by city walls.
Today, the gate is a beautiful historical site that’s very Instagrammable. It’s worth walking through the large, arched gate. On one end of the gate, you can see a portion of pavement that dates back to medieval times. It’s also possible to climb some steps up the gate for a view of the main square of Silves.
Some of the best photo ops will be inside the gate, in the arched entryways. Like with Silves Castle, it’s worth visiting the gate early in the morning as during midday, it gets quite busy with tourists.
Ferragudo
Ferragudo is a small town right on the Arade estuary, across from the city of Portimão. This town started out as a fishing village, but over the years, it’s become known for its traditional feel, with whitewashed homes, winding streets lined with flowers, a historic castle, and even a beach.
Basically all of Ferragudo is Instagrammable. You’ll find plenty of photo opps just wandering through the town’s beautiful streets. But there are some notable locations you won’t want to miss.
Be sure to walk over to Rua Dr. Luiz António dos Santos. This narrow street is popular for photos because it’s lined with colorfully painted houses and doors, as well as trees with blooming flowers.
You’ll also want to stop by Praça Rainha Dona Leonor, which is the main square in Ferragudo. It’s a quaint little square where you’ll find restaurants with terraces, and benches to sit on.
Also swing by Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, an original church that dates back several hundred years. While the church itself is worth seeing, you’ll also want to visit it for the views from the top of the hill that the church sits on.
A few steps from Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição you’ll find a garden lined with benches. From there you’ll have views of the sea, the estuary, and the city of Portimao on the other side of the water.
Benagil Cave
Benagil Cave is the most famous sea cave in the Algarve. It’s a beautiful rock formation with a big hole in the middle of its roof. Light streams into the cave through the hole, creating a gorgeous effect inside the cave.
Benagil Cave is quite large, and when the tide is low, there is a small beach inside that visitors can stand on. From the beach, you can admire the cathedral-like shape, and take epic photos of the natural cave.
The only way to access the inside of Benagil Cave is by going on an Algarve boat tour or by renting equipment, like a kayak. Most tours and rental companies operate from Benagil Beach, which is a beach quite close to the cave’s entrance.
Inside the cave is where you’ll get the best photos. Book your visit for the earliest morning time slot to avoid the crowds, and snap a picture using your wide angle lens to capture the enormity of the cave.
Praia do Camilo
Just a short drive or walk from Lagos is Praia do Camilo. This is one of Portugal’s most recognizable beaches. When you arrive at the top of the beach, you’re treated to dramatic views of the small beach that is surrounded by steep cliffs, as well as rock formations that stretch out into the ocean.
To access this famous beach, you walk from the car park down to the sand using a long wooden staircase. At the bottom, you’ll find a small cove and a sheltered, shallow swimming area.
Praia do Camilo is so well known that it can get crowded, especially in summer. If it’s too busy, you can walk through a tunnel in the cliff on the left side of the beach to access another small beach. The small beach is less busy, and tends to get more shade.
If you’re visiting the Algarve during peak season (June to September), head to this beach early in the morning or at sunset time to avoid the crowds. Be sure to snap some pictures of the beach from above, to capture the sand, ocean, and rock formations.
Praia do Tonel
Praia do Tonel is on the western side of Ponta de Sagres on the southwestern tip of Portugal. Especially in the winter months, the waves are big on this beach, which makes it a popular spot for surfers.
Many tourists head to Praia do Tonel for surf lessons, but it’s also a great Instagram location. From the tall cliffs above the beach, you have beautiful sweeping views of the beach, surfers, and coastline. You can also head down to the beach to snap some action shots of surfers catching waves.
Praia da Marinha
Praia da Marinha is a famous beach known for its interesting rocks, tall cliffs, and crystal clear water. The best way to reach Praia da Marinha is to walk the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. This trail is easy to follow, and delivers beautiful views of the Algarve coast.
Hiking the trail eventually brings you to Praia da Marinha. You’ll first spot the beach from up high on the trail. The view from above is spectacular, but you’ll still want to wander down to the beach itself.
From above and from the beach you’ll have a great view of one of the Algarve’s most photographed rock formations: Arcos Naturais. This formation lies to the western side of the beach.
Ponta da Piedade
Ponta da Piedade is a cluster of rock formations that rise up to 20 meters above the Atlantic Ocean on the Algarve coast. They are an amazing photo opp because the rocks form caves, towers, and natural arches.
At the top of Ponta da Piedade there is a set of around 200 stairs that take you down to the water for a different perspective of the coastline. These stairs are a very Instagrammable location, especially if you shoot facing down toward the ocean.
From the platform at the bottom of the stairs, you can see into the grottos, arches and little caves. This is another great location for photos, because you can capture the rock formations up close. Ponta da Piedade can get very busy, so this spot is worth visiting early in the morning to beat the crowds.
Algar Seco
Algar Seco is a natural coastal rock formation, just outside the village of Carvoeiro. Over the years, the wind and ocean has sculpted beautiful rock shapes, rock holes, and natural pools that you can admire.
The best photo opp at Algar Seco is “Boneca” (“The Doll”). This is a rock shaped like an inverted cone, which looks like a doll when viewed from the sea. You can peer out from two holes in the rock that serve as the doll’s eyes, making for a unique view and photo opp.
Fishermen’s Trail
One of the best ways to capture Instagrammable photos of the Algarve’s coastal scenery and beaches is by hiking the Fishermen’s Trail. It is part of a large network of trails that follow Portugal’s coastline.
For a solid day of hiking and photo-worthy views, walk along the Fishermen’s Trail from the town of Figueira to the town of Sagres. This route is around 20 kilometers, perfect for a day hike.
Park your car in Figueira, and walk down to Salema, where you’ll start the trail at Salema Beach, following it all the way to the town of Sagres. Once you reach Sagres, you can catch a direct bus back to Figueira, to your car (or take a taxi).
One of the most photographable spots you’ll come across on this hike is Praia do Barranco. This beach is considered one of the Algarve’s more remote beaches because it doesn’t have great road access. You’ll first see the beach as you approach it up on the cliffs. This is one of the most Instagrammable views you’ll have of Praia do Barranco.
Lagos Old Town
Lagos is a lively, historic town on the Algarve coast. Its old center is known for pedestrian roads, cute cafes, great restaurants, and shops. The town’s cobblestone streets and old, colorful buildings make this town very Instagrammable.
Part of Lagos’ ancient walls remain intact, but almost everything else is an 18th century construction or restoration. This is due to a devastating earthquake that struck Portugal in 1755.
There’s a couple notable locations you’ll want to stop by in Lagos for Instagram-worthy photos. Start at Restaurante Mare, which is a rooftop bar that is located above a fish market. From the rooftop, you’ll have great views of the Old Town. Plus, you can order an Instagrammable cocktail as a prop for your photo.
Another one of Lagos’s most instagrammable spots is the Marina de Lagos. It’s a marina filled with yachts and boats and is lined by a promenade that is home to various restaurants and bars that overlook the marina. There are two levels to the promenade. Head up to the higher level for a better shot of the marina.
And of course, be sure to wander Lagos Old Town for spontaneous photo opps. During peak season, early morning is the best time to get your Instagrammable photos in the centre. Head out before shops start opening at 8:00am, so that you beat the crowds.
Fort of São João do Arade
Fort of São João do Arade is in-between two beaches nearby the town of Ferragudo. This fortress dates back to the early 17th century. It was built to take advantage of a strategic location, which positioned the castle so that it could help defend and control the Arade river.
In 1896 the castle was abandoned and put up for sale. Today, it’s privately owned, and so it isn’t possible to visit inside. But it still makes for a great photo opp!
For the best shot of Fort of São João do Arade, go down to Praia da Angrinha. You can take photos of the beach with the fort in the distance, or get up close.
Cape St. Vincent
Cape St. Vincent is a few kilometers northwest of Sagres. It juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the most southwestern point of mainland Europe. Back in the 14th century and earlier, many Europeans believed that Cape St. Vincent was the end of the world!
At Cape St. Vincent you can see the ruins of an old monastery that was damaged by Portugal’s 1755 earthquake. There is also a beautiful, working lighthouse on the cliffs. Attached to the lighthouse is a small museum and gift shop.
For an Instagrammable photo of Cape St. Vincent, walk the paths along the cliffs on either side of the cape. From there, you’ll get a shot of the lighthouse, the cliffs, and the ocean.
Final Thoughts: Algarve Instagram Spots
Well, there you have it! This post was all about the most Instagrammable places in the Algarve, Portugal. Whether you only visit one of these spots or many of them, you’re guaranteed to capture beautiful, Instagram-worthy pictures.
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